Exhibitions On View

Calendar of Events — March 2015

All programs are free for JANM members and included with admission for non-members, unless otherwise noted. Events are subject to change.

Reservations are recommended for most programs; you may use the links below. You may also RSVP by emailing rsvp@janm.org or calling 213.625.0414 at least 48 hours in advance. Please indicate the name, date, and time of the program, as well as your name and the number of people in your party. (RSVPs are not accepted for Family Festivals).

For all ticketed events (classes, workshops, food tours, etc.), pre-payment is required to hold your space. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance or no refund will be issued.

JANM Members Invited to Descanso Gardens' Camellia and Tea Festival

JANM MEMBERS: FREE ADMISSION TO DESCANSO GARDENS ALL DAY!

Descanso Gardens invites JANM members to enjoy its award-winning camellia collection, recognized as the largest in North America. Partly built with plants supplied by F.M. Uyematsu of Star Nursery and F.W. Yoshimura of Mission Nursery as incarceration loomed in 1942, the collection is uniquely tied to local Japanese American history.

Show your current JANM membership card for free admission all day. Tea service and guided walks are available; visit descansogardens.org for more information.

Hello Kitty Hinamatsuri Tea at Chado Tea Room

This program is sold out.

Celebrate Hinamatsuri at this special Hello Kitty-themed tea service at Chado Tea Room. Also known as Doll’s Festival or Girl’s Day, this special day in Japan celebrates the health and happiness of young daughters. Hina dolls will be on display, weather permitting.

Love to Nippon 2015

JANM is pleased to host the 2015 edition of Love to Nippon, an annual conference commemorating the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Northern Japan. The daylong program will include a memorial program, an interfaith service, a screening of the documentary film Live Your Dreams: the Taylor Anderson Story, and a panel discussion on the state of Tohoku today.

Create your own biodegradable planter, and then plant a seed and take it home to watch it grow. Special Hello Kitty seed labels will be provided to remind you what you planted.

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Inspired by Sanrio’s “small gift, big smile” philosophy, JANM volunteer Ruthie Kitagawa will teach you how to make a small gift box out of recycled gift wrap.

Design and make your own eco-friendly fashion and accessories using recycled materials. At 3:30 p.m., you’ll have a chance to show off your creations at JANM’s own red carpet runway fashion show!

Macaroni Kids Downtown LA will have a bracelet- and necklace-making table where guests can create macaroni-based accessories to go with their other eco-friendly fashions.

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES:

11:30 a.m. • 12:30 p.m.: Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization reDiscover Center will lead a workshop about the environmental dangers of plastic waste and the importance of recycling plastic wherever possible. There will also be a craft activity to create a fish art piece from a used CD.

12 p.m. • 2 p.m.: Join in on a rockin’ drum circle with Drumtime! All instruments provided, along with brief drumming lessons. Fun for ages 1 to 101!

East West Players: A Writers’ Gallery Reading of Iyakan Blues (The Criers)

FREE

JANM is pleased to host the East West Players’ reading of Iyakan Blues (The Criers), written by Giovanni Ortega and directed by Tim Dang.

Aurora, Remedios, and Eugenia are three of the most sought-after professional criers (individuals paid to cry at funerals) in Monterey Park. They are eager to welcome Aurora’s 14-year-old daughter Ligaya (nicknamed Gaya) from the Philippines into their world and teach her their somber trade. However, they soon realize that Gaya has the opposite effect on people, making them laugh instead of cry. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming story of cultural identity, generational conflict, and finding home in a new country.

Members Only Family History Workshop

JANM members and their children or grandchildren are invited to uncover their family’s immigration and camp records and more in this special, customized workshop. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to discover their unique history together.

Shadows for Peace, For the Sake of the Children (Kodomo no Tame Ni): The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Experience

FREE

The year 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing approximately 120,000 men, women, and children instantly. Thousands more died from injuries and radiation in the following days and years.

This forum, proudly presented by JANM and the Orange Coast Optimist Club, will address the devastating and ongoing effects of atomic weapons on the people of Japan and the world. A range of internationally recognized speakers will discuss the legacy of the nuclear age and present video interviews with hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). Doug Erber, President of the Japan America Society of Southern California, will serve as emcee.

Hello Kitty Shibori Workshop

This program is sold out.

After a brief talk on the connection between Sanrio and Japan’s silk industry, Shibori Girl (Glennis Dolce) will lead participants in designing and dyeing a stitched shibori piece on vintage silk kimono lining fabric in this one-day workshop. Please bring rubber gloves, sewing pins, and scissors.

Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi

Japanese cuisine is familiar to diners all over the world today. Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi is the story of the men who dedicated their lives to spreading wa-shoku (Japan’s traditional foods) throughout the world. Featuring Noritoshi Kanai, Chairman of Mutual Trading Co., Inc.; Nobu Matsuhisa, chef/owner of Nobu restaurants; Katsuya Uechi, chef/owner of Katsu-ya group; Yoshihiro Murata, chef/owner of Kyoto Kikunoi; Shige Nakamura, a ramen master; and many more. Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi is produced by United Television Broadcasting Systems/Film Voice and directed by Junichi Suzuki.

$8 JANM members, $10 general.

On arrival, please check in with the front desk staff at the main entrance to pick-up your ticket or to purchase tickets (upon availability). Ticket does not include admission to Common Ground: The Heart of Community or Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty.

Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi

Japanese cuisine is familiar to diners all over the world today. Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi is the story of the men who dedicated their lives to spreading wa-shoku (Japan’s traditional foods) throughout the world. Featuring Noritoshi Kanai, Chairman of Mutual Trading Co., Inc.; Nobu Matsuhisa, chef/owner of Nobu restaurants; Katsuya Uechi, chef/owner of Katsu-ya group; Yoshihiro Murata, chef/owner of Kyoto Kikunoi; Shige Nakamura, a ramen master; and many more. Wa-Shoku: Beyond Sushi is produced by United Television Broadcasting Systems/Film Voice and directed by Junichi Suzuki.

$8 JANM members, $10 general.

On arrival, please check in with the front desk staff at the main entrance to pick-up your ticket or to purchase tickets (upon availability). Ticket does not include admission to Common Ground: The Heart of Community or Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty Girl Scout Program

This program is sold out.

In this special program just for current, active Girl Scouts, start your visit to Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty before museum hours and then create your own Hello Kitty–inspired artwork.

$10 per person for scouts or accompanying troop leaders, parents/guardians who are current JANM members;
$20 per person for current, active Girl Scouts who are non-JANM members;
$30 per person for accompanying troop leaders, parents/guardians who are non-JANM members

Special Hello Kitty JANM patches will be provided to all current and active participating Girl Scouts. Space is limited.

Edible Adventures: Public Art and the Sweets of Little Tokyo

On this walking tour, participants will see and learn about the many works of public art in Little Tokyo, from commemorative statues to spray-painted wall murals. Asian sweets—such as imagawayaki (red bean cake), dango (sweet dumplings), and mochi ice cream—will be sampled at stores along the way.

Fresh Off The Boat: “Blind Spot”

If you missed the program, you can watch it online on JANM’s YouTube channel.

FREE

This Tuesday’s episode of the hit Asian American TV series, “Fresh Off the Boat,” will have an LGBTQ theme. JANM is pleased to host a special community viewing of the episode in our Tateuchi Democracy Forum. A panel discussion will follow featuring writer and showrunner Nahnatchka Khan, episode guest actor Rex Lee, author/comedian D'Lo, and artist/organizer Erin O'Brien. The panel will be moderated by filmmaker Curtis Chin.